Southernhay House

About Southernhay House

Southernhay House occupies a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse on Southernhay East, one of Exeter's better-preserved garden squares and a five-minute walk from the cathedral. It was built in 1805 for a plantation owner and has been an independently owned boutique hotel since 2012. The scale is domestic rather than corporate, which is unusual for a city-centre hotel in the South West.

There are 12 bedrooms, each named and individually decorated in a fairly bold style: strong colours, patterned wallpaper, antique and mid-century furniture, and heated bathroom floors. Rooms look out over either Southernhay Gardens at the front or the hotel's walled garden at the back. Sizes vary a good deal, so it is worth reading the descriptions before booking; the larger rooms at the front are the ones with the best light. A self-contained apartment is also available for longer stays.

Downstairs, the bar has a reputation of its own and is busy with locals as well as guests, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings. The Club Room dining room serves modern British food using Devon suppliers, and there is a private dining room seating up to 14. The secret garden at the rear is used for drinks in summer and is a genuine surprise given the city-centre location.

It suits couples on a city break, business travellers who would rather not stay in a chain, and anyone using Exeter as a base for the wider county. Exeter Central station is about ten minutes on foot, St David's a little further, and the quayside, cathedral and Royal Albert Memorial Museum are all walkable. There is no car park, though the hotel can advise on nearby options, and the bar noise means light sleepers should ask for a garden-side room.